“Sounds good,” he said, scouting the hall for threats. Only students running late for class. “Have a nice day,Professor.”
She waved a hand and made her way through running studentsto her doorway.
He settled his pack more securely over his shoulder and turned in the other direction, his mind already on how he’d get her to a safehouse he hadin the Rockies.
Her scream ripped through his body faster than any blade. He pivoted and ran toward her, tossing a couple of male students out of the way. “Gemma?”
She stood in the entryway, looking into her office, her face stark white.
He drew her aside and took in the scene instantly.
“What’s wrong?” A female student popped up behind Gemma.
“Nothing.” Jethro shut the door.“Get to class.”
Gemma turned her body into him and he held her, waiting until the students reluctantly dispersed.
Then he slowly opened the door, setting Gemma to the side, where she couldn’t see into the office. “Stay here.” He planted her back against the wall and stepped inside the office, slowly taking inventory of thegruesome scene.
Dr. Monty Cameron hanged from a rope secured above a damaged ceiling tile, his face purple and already bloated. His naked body showed several bruises and cuts, and one cut extended from his breastbone to his pelvis, which had allowed his entrails to fall out. The smell of deathwas all around.
Jethro’s training superseded the emotions he felt as Gemma’s lover and he moved right into seeking any evidence that could be used against him. There were no cameras in the room. “Gemma? Call the police and then get Angus Force on the line. In fact, let him call in the homicide detectives,” he ordered.
She looked around the corner, her lips trembling. “Okay.” Then she disappeared again.
Jethro conducted a cursory search of the office, looking for the murder weapon. This was no doubt Fletcher’s doing, and somehow Jethro’s prints would be on it. Damn it. No weapon. He moved closer to the body, avoiding the bloody mess on the floor. He scrutinized the skin, from top to bottom, but likewise didn’t find any obvious DNA. However, just one hair from his head in the congealed mess would be enough to incriminate him.
Sirens blew through thequiet outside.
Jethro immediately stepped back into the hallway to find Gemma sitting on the cold wooden floor, huddled with her back to the wall. “It’s going to be a rough day.”
She looked up, her blue eyes wide with shock. “I don’t understand.”
There was no way to explain this. “It has to be Fletcher,” Jethro said, shaking his head. So this was why Fletcher had been so damn cheerful just a fewhours before.
Angus Force came through the door first, with Roscoe at his feet. He reached them just as more police vehicles skidded to a stop in the icy parking lot outside. “Is there evidence against you?” he hissed.
“Not in the office,” Jethro said quietly. “At least none I could find. I’m sure it’ll show up, though.”
Angus breathed out. “Brigid is trying to get you cleared in the other three homicide cases, but with your background the brass isn’t completely buying your innocence. Gemma said this guy was disemboweled, just like the other victims?” At Jethro’s nod, Angus let loose a series of expletives that would’ve been impressive if the situation wasn’t such a complete disaster. Finally he wound down. He looked toward Gemma, who was still hunched over. “Give Scott a call, would you? Jethro’s going to spend the next several hours being interrogated, as are you, and we’re going toneed a lawyer.”
“They don’t have enough to charge either one of us,” Jethro said, trying to reassure her.
She slowly stood and withdrew her phone from her pocket, her hands visibly shaking.
Angus nudged open the door and stared at the dead body, letting out a low whistle.“That is sick.”
“That’s Fletcher,” Jethro said wearily.
Angus looked at him. “I don’t want anybody near our homes, got it? If they want to interview you, we go downtown. None of this touches the haven we’ve created in that subdivision.”
“That’s more than fair,” Jethro said. He didn’t want murder or the authorities near their homes either. Plus, Trudy was safe out there, and he didn’t want his problems to cause her evenone nightmare.
From the look of Gemma, she’d be having bad dreams about this for quite some time.
HDD agents Rutherford and Fields burst through the door right before Detectives Bianchi and Buckle. It took less than a minute for the HDD to assert federal jurisdiction over the case, or at least attempt to.
Bianchi wasn’t having it. This was a homicide in his territory, with no clear indication of federal jurisdiction.
